Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver J.J. Nelson has found it difficult to break into the NFL playing behind the talented trio of Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown. That's not a knock against Nelson as any fifth-rounder would struggle to keep up with those guys in his first year. But the Cardinals -- still scarred by the horrendous QB play they witnessed post-Kurt Warner -- are determined to squeeze every last ounce of production they can from Carson Palmer before all is said and done. That is why they continue to invest in the wide receiver position and that is why, regardless of what happens the rest of this post-season, you'll likely hear Nelson's name called more often in 2016.
"In 2014, Arizona spent a fourth-round pick on 5-foot-11, 179-pound speedster John Brown," ESPN's Mike Clay wrote. "That was a pick well spent, so the club went ahead and drafted Nelson in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. When it comes to size and speed, Nelson is at the polar extremes in both categories. He's absurdly quick (4.26 40-yard dash) and grossly undersized (5-foot-10, 160 pounds). Nelson played sparingly during his first regular season (151 snaps), but managed a pair of long touchdowns on 27 targets. His 24.5 average depth of target was highest among players who saw at least 10 targets. Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and Brown are cemented ahead of Nelson on Arizona's depth chart, but Fitzgerald turns 33 in August, Arizona operates one of the league's highest-scoring offenses and only the Jets had their fourth wide receiver on the field more often in 2015."
The Cardinals finished 2015 ranked second in points per game (30.6) behind the Carolina Panthers. They attempted the second-most passes in the NFL (4,616), ranked second in passing yards per game (288.5) and third in passing touchdowns (35). No, Nelson wasn't a big contributor to those numbers with just 11 receptions for 299 yards and two scores, but he is clearly in a healthy environment for pass-catchers.
It's also worth noting that the still great but also aging Fitzgerald dipped in the second half of the season. Through the first eight games, Fitzgerald topped 90 receiving yards four times versus just twice over the final eight. Though some of that had to do with improved health from Floyd and Brown, you could also make the case that he wore down as the season progressed.
No matter which way you slice it, Nelson is in a great position to produce more in 2016.
